Chain controls going up on Lake Tahoe roads

Submitted by paula on Sat, 03/12/2016 - 9:07pm

The next way in a series of storms over the Sierra has made its way into Lake Tahoe tonight, with forecasters predicting up to two feet of snow at lake level by Monday morning.

Interstate 80 has had chain controls up for much of the afternoon, and Highway 50 has just put theirs up.

As of 8 p.m. Saturday, controls are now up on Highway 50 from Twin Bridges to Meyers, with chains required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires.

On I-80, westbound trucks are being held at Prosser Rd in Truckee due to snow, and eastbound trucks are being held at Applegate. Chains are required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires from Baxter to Truckee.

State Route 89 is closed at Emerald Bay. Chains are required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires from Picketts Junction to Christmas Valley. Chains required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires from the Y to Emerald Bay, and chains or snow tires from Bliss State Park to Tahoe City.

On State Route 88, chains are required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires from Ham's Station to five miles west of Picketts Junction.

At this time there are no controls over Kingsbury Grade or Spooner Summit.

Temperatures in South Lake Tahoe will hit 50 degrees by Tuesday, but in the meantime, here is the forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tonight - Snow. Low around 32. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Sunday - Rain and snow. Temperature rising to near 41 by 9am, then falling to around 28 during the remainder of the day. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Sunday Night - Snow. Low around 29. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Monday - Snow showers, mainly before 11am. High near 38. Breezy, with a southwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.